Baseball: Tigers vs. Dragons

Baseball: Tigers vs. Dragons

Hanshin Tigers slugger Teruaki Sato hits a solo home run off Hideaki Wakui of the Chunichi Dragons in the fourth inning of a baseball game at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya on April 29, 2025.

Baseball: Tigers vs. Dragons

Baseball: Tigers vs. Dragons

Hanshin Tigers slugger Teruaki Sato hits a solo home run off Hideaki Wakui of the Chunichi Dragons in the fourth inning of a baseball game at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in Nagoya on April 29, 2025.

Wakui one-hits Hawks as Lions take PL lead

Wakui one-hits Hawks as Lions take PL lead

FUKUOKA, Japan - Seibu Lions starter Hideaki Wakui pitches against the Softbank Hawks at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka on May 7, 2010. Wakui pitched a one-hitter for his first shutout of the season as the Lions beat the Hawks 4-0 to move atop the Pacific League.

Japan's Pacific League opens 2010 season

Japan's Pacific League opens 2010 season

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions starting pitcher Hideaki Wakui throws the ball to Lotte Marines leadoff batter Tsuyoshi Nishioka in the first inning at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on March 20, 2010, the opening day for the 2010 season of the Pacific League. Wakui struck out 11 and allowed one run on seven hits before Brian Sikorski pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save as the Lions won 2-1.

Wakui re-signs with Seibu Lions for 200 mil. yen

Wakui re-signs with Seibu Lions for 200 mil. yen

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions pitcher Hideaki Wakui, winner of the Sawamura Award, speaks to reporters at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Dec. 25, 2009, after re-signing with the Pacific League baseball club for an annual salary of 200 million yen plus performance bonuses.

Wakui holds off from re-signing with Seibu Lions

Wakui holds off from re-signing with Seibu Lions

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions right-hander Hideaki Wakui speaks at a news conference at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Dec. 15, 2009, after turning down the Pacific League baseball club's offer of an 80 million yen pay raise that would bring his earnings to 200 million yen in 2010.

Lions ace Wakui named MVP for July

Lions ace Wakui named MVP for July

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions right-hander Hideaki Wakui speaks at a press conference at the club's office in Saitama Prefecture on Aug. 5. Wakui was named the Pacific League monthly MVP for July after winning all four starts and having a league-best-tying 1.64 ERA.

PL beats CL in Game 2 of Japan's All-Star baseball series

PL beats CL in Game 2 of Japan's All-Star baseball series

HIROSHIMA, Japan - Right-hander Hideaki Wakui starts for the Pacific League team in Game 2 of the All-Star series against the Central League at Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima on July 25.

Japan beats San Francisco Giants 6-4 in exhibition game

Japan beats San Francisco Giants 6-4 in exhibition game

SCOTTSDALE, United States - Japan's Hideaki Wakui pitches against the San Francisco Giants in an exhibition game in Scottsdale, Arizona, March 11. Japan won 6-4.

Japan vs China in WBC Pool A opener in Tokyo

Japan vs China in WBC Pool A opener in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Japan set-up man Hideaki Wakui (C) is congratulated by pitching coach Hisashi Yamada (R) after holding China scoreless over two innings in the opening game of the first round of Pool A in the 2009 World Baseball Classic tournament at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 5.

Japan vs China in WBC Pool A opener in Tokyo

Japan vs China in WBC Pool A opener in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's set-up man Hideaki Wakui pitches against China in the opening game in the first round of Pool A in the 2009 World Baseball Classic tournament at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 5.

Wakui shuts out Eagles

Wakui shuts out Eagles

SENADAI, Japan - Second-year right-hander Hideaki Wakui threw a two-hitter for his first career complete-game shutout in Seibu's 2-0 win over Rakuten at Fullcast Stadium in Sendai on April 23.

Seibu Lions picks Yokohama high school's Wakui

Seibu Lions picks Yokohama high school's Wakui

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Yokohama high school pitcher Hideaki Wakui smiles at a news conference in Yokohama after being named by the Seibu Lions in the first round of the amateur draft on Nov. 17.

Seibu Lions picks Yokohama high school's Wakui

Seibu Lions picks Yokohama high school's Wakui

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Yokohama high school pitcher Hideaki Wakui smiles at a news conference in Yokohama after being named by the Seibu Lions in the first round of the amateur draft on Nov. 17. (Kyodo)

D“Š‚µ‚½æ”­‚Ì—Oˆä

D“Š‚µ‚½æ”­‚Ì—Oˆä

BEIJING, China - Japan's starter Hideaki Wakui pitches against China in an Olympic preliminary game at Wukesong Baseball Field in Beijing on Aug. 19. Japan beat China 10-0 in a game that was called after seven innings under the mercy rule. Japan will take on the United States in its final game of the preliminary round on Wednesday. (Kyodo)

Baseball in Japan

Baseball in Japan

Rakuten Eagles pitcher Hideaki Wakui plays catch during practice at Rakuten Seimei Park in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on March 25, 2021, a day before his scheduled start on the season-opening day against the Nippon Ham Fighters.

Baseball: Lotte's Wakui considering free agency: source

Baseball: Lotte's Wakui considering free agency: source

Hideaki Wakui of the Lotte Marines pitches against the Seibu Lions at Zozo Marine Stadium in Chiba, Japan, on Aug. 12, 2017. Wakui could make himself available on the free agent market to pursue a long-held dream of playing in the major leagues, a club executive said on Oct. 11. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan vs China in WBC Pool A opener in Tokyo

Japan vs China in WBC Pool A opener in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Japan set-up man Hideaki Wakui (C) is congratulated by pitching coach Hisashi Yamada (R) after holding China scoreless over two innings in the opening game of the first round of Pool A in the 2009 World Baseball Classic tournament at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 5. (Kyodo)

Japan vs China in WBC Pool A opener in Tokyo

Japan vs China in WBC Pool A opener in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's set-up man Hideaki Wakui pitches against China in the opening game in the first round of Pool A in the 2009 World Baseball Classic tournament at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 5. (Kyodo)

Japan beats San Francisco Giants 6-4 in exhibition game

Japan beats San Francisco Giants 6-4 in exhibition game

SCOTTSDALE, United States - Japan's Hideaki Wakui pitches against the San Francisco Giants in an exhibition game in Scottsdale, Arizona, March 11. Japan won 6-4. (Kyodo)

Wakui one-hits Hawks as Lions take PL lead

Wakui one-hits Hawks as Lions take PL lead

FUKUOKA, Japan - Seibu Lions starter Hideaki Wakui pitches against the Softbank Hawks at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka on May 7, 2010. Wakui pitched a one-hitter for his first shutout of the season as the Lions beat the Hawks 4-0 to move atop the Pacific League. (Kyodo)

Japan's Pacific League opens 2010 season

Japan's Pacific League opens 2010 season

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions starting pitcher Hideaki Wakui throws the ball to Lotte Marines leadoff batter Tsuyoshi Nishioka in the first inning at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on March 20, 2010, the opening day for the 2010 season of the Pacific League. Wakui struck out 11 and allowed one run on seven hits before Brian Sikorski pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save as the Lions won 2-1. (Kyodo)

Baseball in Japan

Baseball in Japan

Hideaki Wakui of the Rakuten Eagles pitches against the Lotte Marines at Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 26, 2020.

Baseball in Japan

Baseball in Japan

Hideaki Wakui of the Rakuten Eagles pitches against the Lotte Marines at Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 26, 2020.

Baseball in Japan

Baseball in Japan

Hideaki Wakui of the Rakuten Eagles pitches against the Orix Buffaloes at Hotto Motto Field in Kobe, western Japan, on Sept. 16, 2020.

Lotte's Wakui eyes majors

Lotte's Wakui eyes majors

Lotte Marines right-hander Hideaki Wakui (2nd row, L) watches the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium with his wife Moe Oshikiri on Oct. 25, 2017. Lotte said Nov. 8, 2017, that Wakui has filed for overseas free agency. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Lotte's Wakui eyes majors

Lotte's Wakui eyes majors

Lotte Marines right-hander Hideaki Wakui (2nd row, R) watches the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium next to his wife Moe Oshikiri on Oct. 25, 2017. Lotte said Nov. 8, 2017, that Wakui has filed for overseas free agency. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Baseball: Hawks come back to take Game 1

Baseball: Hawks come back to take Game 1

Hideaki Wakui of the Lotte Marines pitches against the SoftBank Hawks in Game 1 of the Pacific League Climax Series first stage at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 8, 2016. Wakui allowed two runs in seven innings. The Hawks won the game 4-3. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Baseball: Hawks come back to take Game 1

Baseball: Hawks come back to take Game 1

Lotte Marines pitcher Hideaki Wakui reacts after giving up a solo home run to Seiichi Uchikawa of the SoftBank Hawks in the third inning of Game 1 of the Pacific League Climax Series first stage at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 8, 2016. The Hawks won the game 4-3. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Wakui re-signs with Seibu Lions for 200 mil. yen

Wakui re-signs with Seibu Lions for 200 mil. yen

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions pitcher Hideaki Wakui, winner of the Sawamura Award, speaks to reporters at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Dec. 25, 2009, after re-signing with the Pacific League baseball club for an annual salary of 200 million yen plus performance bonuses. (Kyodo)

Wakui holds off from re-signing with Seibu Lions

Wakui holds off from re-signing with Seibu Lions

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions right-hander Hideaki Wakui speaks at a news conference at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Dec. 15, 2009, after turning down the Pacific League baseball club's offer of an 80 million yen pay raise that would bring his earnings to 200 million yen in 2010. (Kyodo)